AutoZone opens 5,000th store

With the opening of its newest retail location, AutoZone Inc. has a couple of reasons to celebrate.

The auto parts retailer's store in Wasilla, Alaska, signifies the entry of the Memphis-based company into Alaska. It's also store No. 5,000 in North America for AutoZone (NYSE: AZO), according to a news release at NASDAQ.

The company opened its first store in Forrest City, Ark., on July 4, 1979 and presently operates in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Mexico.